A MAJOR motor dealership will be flattened for housing under new plans.

Hartwell’s Land Rover branch on the A420 Faringdon Road near Cumnor will move to a “more central location” to make way for up to 22 homes under the plans.

The firm, which moved to the site in 1996, was not available for comment about its future.

Oakhill Group Ltd has applied for permission from Vale of White Horse District Council for the Green Belt scheme.

It would have 13 three-bedroom, six four-bedroom and three five-bedroom houses with 60 parking spaces.

Yet it said while council policies would “normally” throw out such a scheme, this is now overruled by controversial new planning reforms.

The reforms, in the National Planning Policy Framework, mean it should be allowed to meet a housing target, it says.

Cumnor Parish Council chairman the Rev Brian Stops said: “The traffic is a problem for the houses there already. Getting out is not easy.”

Views are now being sought on the plan. A further application would be needed on final details of the scheme, such as design of the homes.

Another application seeks to demolish 66 Cumnor Hill for three blocks of 11, two-bedroom and one, one-bedroom flat.

The application says the plan – by Joe McDermott – “represents an efficient use of the site and it does not harm the character of the area”.